What is the PASS grant?
Promoting Academically Successful Students (PASS) is a competitive grant available through the Minority Advancement Program (MAP). It helps institutions of higher education (IHEs) fund programs that support undergraduate minority students on academic warning or probation. The programs are available to students during the fall and spring semesters.
PASS addresses low enrollment and graduation rates for minority students (mainly Black, Hispanic, and Latino). In Connecticut, about 12 percent of Black and 16 percent of Hispanic or Latino students enroll in an IHE compared to 52 percent of white students.1 Similarly, 54 percent of Black and 62 percent of Hispanic or Latino students graduate compared to 75 percent of white students.2
Students are given an academic warning or placed on probation when they don’t meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards. Students who don’t meet SAP standards2 may lose their financial aid and be dismissed from school. The SAP standards are:
- Grade-point average (GPA): Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Progress: Students must complete two-thirds of all attempted courses
- Completion: Students must complete their program of study without attempting more than 150% of the credits required to complete the degree
OHE oversees all PASS grantees.
For PASS program details, please review the most recent RFP (PDF).
Current PASS grantees:
- Central Connecticut State University
- CT State Community College, Naugatuck Valley campus
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Southern Connecticut State University
- University of Connecticut Storrs
- Western Connecticut State University
- The Chronicle of Higher Education, Compare the States
- U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid, Satisfactory Academic Progress